By Kate Sosin
On Memorial Day, Chicago veterans assembled a line of country and service flags in Lakeview, and paid tribute to those LGBT individuals who have fought on behalf of this country.
Members of the American Veterans for Equal Rights ( AVER ) joined approximately 30 community members in Space Park to honor the contributions of LGBT servicepeople May 31. The ceremony included a rendition of the national anthem by the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus; speeches from State Rep. Greg Harris and Rick Garcia of Equality Illinois; poetry; and a wreath-laying.
The event will be the first of many in Lakeview's new Space Park, 815 W. Roscoe ) . The park is slotted to serve as a memorial to LGBT veterans, with plans to unveil a monument as soon as the fall. Lakeview resident Stephen Crawford is organizing the memorial, and he scheduled the Memorial Day service in cooperation with The Lake View Citizens Council, The Triangle Neighbors Association, and AVER.
Crawford said that the uncertain promise of a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ( DADT ) repeal inspired him to honor veterans who have sacrificed not only their safety, but their identities. "They've given so much more than what people think," he said.
Garcia urged community members to honor veterans by insisting on the repeal of DADT. "If we really want to honor and remember these brave service people, we must commit ourselves to making sure that LGBT [ people ] who serve today can do so openly and proudly, that they do not have to hide or deny themselves to serve their country," said Garcia.
Chicago Chapter AVER President Jim Darby agreed. As a gay veteran, he has been fighting DADT for 17 years. "If we don't speak out and indentify ourselves and show people who we are, there are no gay veterans," he said.